Gun talks are stalled over universal background checks

As Senate Democrats get closer to putting together a comprehensive package on new gun control legislation, negotiations to find bipartisan support for expanding background checks on gun purchases have stalled, despite some quiet lobbying by Vice President Joe Biden.

At the same time, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is trying to build support inside and outside the Senate for her controversial assault weapons ban. That’s going to be where the action is for the next 24 to 72 hours — whether or not she can move the ball and get the ban out of committee onto the floor, where it will face certain opposition from Republicans and some Democrats from conservative states.

John Walsh, the U.S. attorney in Colorado, and Edward Flynn, chief of the Milwaukee Police Department, are scheduled to testify, as well as a relative of a shooting victim from the Newtown, Conn., massacre. Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Fla.), who has strongly opposed any new gun-related bills, will also testify.

While Feinstein continues to push the assault weapons ban, the closely watched bipartisan talks to expand background checks have failed so far to lead to an agreement.

Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) have been negotiating on the background checks, but Coburn says they have failed to reach agreement on his top concern: that no permanent record keeping of gun purchases be made a result of background checks.

Coburn is also upset that Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has scheduled a committee markup for Thursday, preferring instead that Democrats wait for a deal before proceeding with any votes, either in committee or on the floor. Republicans are likely to use their option to delay the markup for another week.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat and NRA member who is seen as key to any deal on guns, is more optimistic about a potential deal on background checks.

“I think it’s a legitimate concern [Coburn] has from an individual [standpoint] and we’re looking at working and trying to work through all of that,” said Manchin, who has also been involved in negotiations. “We’re making great strides; I really think so.”

Biden has been privately consulting with Manchin on the status of the bipartisan talks, according to Democratic sources.

Leahy has created space for a Schumer-authored placeholder bill for any deal on background checks, but he wouldn’t say if he thought an agreement will be reached in time.